Kristiansand

Kristiansand is Norway´s fifth largest town with approximately 84,000 inhabitants and a area of 276,8 km2 in Vest Agder. The town is the trade and communications centre for the south of Norway and has extensive train, bus, ferry and plane links with the rest of the Norway and elsewhere. Kristiansand has the country´s seeond largest harbour, largest college and an economy based on industry, trade and tourism. The town was founded by King Christian IV in 1641 and the town centre is built in the renaissance style.

A shopping trip in this town with its chessboard pattern is both easy and fun! All kinds of shops feature along the pavements and in the pedestrian precincts. All the fruit and vegetable stalls are to be found in the square in the town centre. From the square, it´s just a short distance to all four quarters of the town which are contained within an area of one square km!

The fishermen´s wharf and Gravanekanalen (the Gravane Canal) are located in one of the town´s four quarters. Here, one can find an exciting fish market, a lively restaurant environment, small boat traffic and sightseeing boats. The indoor swimming pool and Bystranda (a fatastic sandy beach - in the town!) are located in the next quarter.

You can even fish for salmon in the river Otra just a couple of stone´s throws away! The town´s communications hub, with its railway, bus and ferry terminal, is located in the third quarter of the town, while the fourth and final quarter contains Posebyen, which consists of Northern Europe´s largest collection of low, terraced, white, wooden houses dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

Just a few kilometres east is Sørlandsparken, with 200 different shops, 100 of which are gathered together under the same roof in Sørlandssenteret (shopping centre). The area has more than 3,000 free parking spaces.

Eleven miles east of the city is the Kristiansand zoo, which also includes Cardamom Town and other attractions popular with Norwegian children. In the town you can see Kristiansand zoo with a Scandinavian predatur reserve for wolves, an amusement park, an entertainment park, a bathing area and the children´s town of Cardamom town. Kristiansand has a trotting track, motor museum, county museum, natural history museum, nature reserves, picture gallery, Agder theatre, Christiansholm fort and, newly opened, the Kristiansand cannon museum with an original German large calibre cannon and by Gravanekanalen on Odderøya, close to the fish wharf is the Kilden Performing Arts Centre, a theater and concert hall.

Far out in the Kristiansand fjord lie Flekkerøy, Oksøy and other smaller islands as well as Grønningen lighthouse. During the summer months the whole area teems with life.

Bystranda (The City Beach) is a Blue Flag beach in the southeastern part of the downtown. It is located just east of the mouth of the river Otra. The shallow sandy beach by the Kristiansand Boardwalk consists of fine filled sand.
By Bystranda there are seating areas, bathrobes stairs, sand volleyball court, skate ramp, playground, and restrooms. At the plant of the bathing beach was emphasized that it should be accessible to children and the disabled. Bystranda is popular on hot summer days. Close to Bystranda is the indoor water park Aquarama. Aquarama is an indoor swimming complex with water slides, pools, bar and jacuzzis. There is also an outdoor pool. Aquarama also has a fitness center and climbing walls. Bystranda is also used as a concert venue. Palmesus< is an annual music festival at the beach in early July.

Color Line operates four international cruise ferry lines between ten ports in Norway, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. The Color Line fleet totals six ships. Color Line´s ships offer facilities and activities suitable for every age group. The Color Line terminals in Norway: Oslo, Larvik, Kristiansand and Sandefjord. The Color Line terminal in Denmark: Hirtshals. The Color Line terminal in Germany: Kiel.

Fjord Line is a modern and public-minded shipping company focusing on safe and pleasant transportation between Norway and the European continent. The Fjord Line terminals in Norway: Bergen, Stavanger, Kristiansand, Langesund and Sandefjord. The Fjord Line terminal in Denmark: Hirtshals. The Fjord Line terminals in Sweden: Strömstad.

Few parks cover such a variety as Kristiansand Zoo (Dyreparken), which is why the Zoo like to call themselves "The Living Park". Just 11 km east of Kristiansand you will find the most beautiful and natural zoo, with scenery and environment in abundance. Kristiansand Zoo is Norway´s most frequently visited attraction covering an area of 150 acres of wild Nordic terrain. It is totally different from other European zoos, which are characterised by bars and heavy padlocks.

In Kristiansand Zoo, the animals have wide open spaces in which to roam - however, the visitors are still able to get up close to observe some of the most beautiful animals - like the red panda, which is threatened by extinction. The first part of the rain forest is alive with a variety of apes and monkeys. One of the park`s latest attractions is an open air area where some of the smaller monkeys run wild amongst the trees and climbling areas and swing on the ropes while you can move amongst them!

Deeper into the rain forest, the mist and the humid atmosphere, dark and scary passages lead the way to crocodiles, alligators and many other reptiles - You will find more than 800 animals and birds living in as much freedom as possible in a natural environment. The park has many kilometres of good paths throughout, to enable visitors the possibility to roam for hours.

Kristiansand Zoo is working very closely with the World Wild-life Foundation to help save animals under threat of extinction. It offers you the opportunity to see the Nordic wolf, lynx and wolverine in their natural environment. A trip to Cardamom Town (Kardemomme by) is recommended. The town is based on a well-known children´s story written by Thorbjørn Egner and you will meet all the Kardemomme by´s characters from the book in the park´s main season.

Captain Sabertooth (Kaptein Sabeltann) is a fictional pirate that is the main character in a number of theatre plays by the Norwegian singer and actor Terje Formoe. The characters of these plays have also been adapted into books and cartoons for small children.

Captain Sabertooth is head of a band of pirates, who are sailing together in their ship called The Dark Lady. Among the other pirates are Pirate Wally (Pelle Pirat) a fat and somewhat clumsy man, and Tiny (Pinky), a young guy fighting for recognition from the other pirates.

The park is full of surprises - not only will you find animals, but there is also a "Summer Island" (a bathing area), with heated swimming pools. Watch the Pirates battle it out from the Black Lady ship, while you enjoy an ice cream. It´s paradise for both young and old...

Sailing area, from the centre of Lillesand to Gamle Hellesund - Ulvøysund. The inner archipelago affords plentiful opportunity for open-air activities, enjoying the coastal scenery and outports. Blindleia has its own activity map together with a brochure which contains information about the maritime coastal culture, nature, outdoor life and local places of historical interest. Public park. Regulations governing the use of boats. Owned by the state, the local district authority and privately.

Fish Market at the Fish Wharf is one of the city´s tourist attractions, selling all kinds of Norwegian fish and shellfish, also live. Many restaurants offer food and drink in the cozy, peaceful surroundings inside and outside on both sides of Gravanekanalen.

The houses are built in an old style, similar to the warehouses, painted in ocher yellow and red. Wooden pier on both sides of Gravanekanalen, where there is a bustling boat traffic in summer. Several bridges over the canal gives the area an almost Venetian look.

Kilden Performing Arts Centre is located on the waterfront in Kristiansand, next to the fish market at the entrance to Kristiansand harbour. The Centre is the home of Agder Regional Theatre, Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra and Opera Sør (the regional opera company). Kilden houses all types of culture events, including pop, rock and stand-up comedy. With the breadth and quality of its programming, Kilden is Southern Norway´s cultural powerhouse, moving and enthusing audiences.

Posebyen is Kristiansand´s charming old quarter. During its heyday it bustled with a mixture of dwellings, small workshops and famiiy businesses. Today the area is regaining some of its former popubrlty. The walk offers peace of mind, inspiration for the creative soul, and may provide the special gift for a close friend. A street market is held on Holbergsgate in Posebyen from 11 am to 4pm every Saturdy during the summer season.

BERNTSENS HOUSE

Now the location of Vest-Agder County Museum (and soon to house the museum of local history), the building previousiy belonged to Lieutenant Bentsen, who was assigned to the marching band. One of the best preserved houses in Kristiansand,it is believed to have been built during the 1820s. It has previously housed as many as 40 inhabitants, including 15 soldiers in the attic. In the yard you will find two stables, a tool shed, hayloft, double toilet, woodshed and a chicken coop.

EKSERSERHOUSE

Built between 1807-08. Functioned as an officer training academy until WW Il. The building has also been used for concerts, theatre, as a ballroom for the garrisons soldiers; acrobats performed there and Constitution Day was celebrated in it.

NURSING HOME

Kristiansand Nursing Home has been occupied since 1698, the present building was erected after a fire (Østerbrannen) in 1859. One of Kristiansand's best known houses, it was previously owned by an influential businessman locally referred to as "The King of Elvegada". A supplier of high quality merchandise, he donated the christening font in Kristiansand Cathedral which has since been used to christen many of Kristiansand´s inhabitants.

Kristiansand City Council took over the building in 1906 and turned it into a nursing home for the "elderly and infirm". The elegant wooden building stands empty today, since the nursing home moved to a more suitable location on the opposite side of the road.

KRISTIANSAND CANON MUSEUM

A historical defence museum that features a heavy German coastal defence battery from 1940-45, with the world´s second largest land-based cannon (337 tonnes), with a 380 mm calibre and a range which extends half way to Denmark. Plenty of other material from WW II.

AGDER NATURE MUSEUM and BOTANICAL GARDENS

A natural history museum with interesting exhibitions, geology, plant and animal life. Botanical gardens with a rich variety of flowers and trees trom all over the world, and Norway´s biggest collection of cacti. Exhibition of minerals.

COUNTY MUSEUM

History museum with open-air section. Town street from old Kristiansand with a care in Consul Mørch's pavilion. Setesdal and Vest-Agder farms. In the main building there are theme exhibitions: Farm collection and church department, resistance exhibition, "Kristiansand the Renaissance Town", toys and costumes department and archaeological exhibition. In the carriage hall there are ditferent vehicles and transport - related objects.

GIMLE FARM

Old manor house from the end of the 18th century. Privately owned until 1982. Built by the shipowner and wholesale merchant Bernt Holm. Currently owned by the Kristiansand district. Extensive collection of paintings, furniture, silver, porcelain, glass. etc. Separate picture hall. English-style landscaped park.

Among the existing government incentives, all-electric cars are exempt in Norway from the annual road tax, all public parking fees, and toll payments as well as being able to use bus lanes.

Charging points in Kristiansand at the moment is 43.

Charging points can be found on street parking, at taxi stands, in parking lots, at places of employment, hotels, airports, shopping centers, convenience shops, fast food restaurants, coffeehouses etc., as well as in driveways and garages.

SESAME TRAIN (SESAMTOGET)

The sesame train takes you through the centre of Kristiansand, on to Vennesla, Grovane and back again.

Kristiansand Golfclub is 9 hole course is at Korsvik (Randesund), and is around 5 km long. Equipment can be hired from the Proshop.

Bjaavann Golfclub is a golf course with 9 holes. The course is designed by Robert Trent Jones jr. and is among the very best in Norway. The golfcourse is located a few kilometres outside the city of Kristiansand towards Vennesla / Ålefjær.